Infant&#39;s bib with multiple closures

ABSTRACT

The invention includes an infant&#39;s bib with a plurality of side pieces attached to a center piece. The free ends of the side pieces have fastening mechanism, which can be attached to each other in a plurality of configurations. Each configuration providing more than one attachment points that secure the bib to the infants neck, body and torso. This inventive feature secures all parts of the bib to the infant and prevents the infant from lifting the bib away from its body or towards its face. Thus, eliminating the risk of the infant inserting the bib in its mouth and any associated choking hazards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to bibs worn by infants. Inparticular, the invention relates to bibs worn around an infant's torsoprotecting the infant's skin and clothes from food, drool and liquids.

2. Description of Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,542 to Reinhart discloses a disposable bib having animproved mechanical fastener assembly. The mechanical fastener assemblyincludes an extended target surface and an array of prongs elementsextending from a surface of the bib. The mechanical prong elementsprovide secure fastening of the bib shoulder extensions, yet are soft tothe touch.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,836 to Morris discloses a bib that features areusable attachment at the neck that accommodates different neck sizesand desired closeness of fit yet releases easily to eliminate a chokinghazard.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,938 to Niski discloses a bib comprising a hoop madeof memory material, a collar for fitting around a wearer's neck and abody portion for protecting the chest of the wearer. The hoopcommunicates with the collar and both the collar and hoop can beexpanded to form a neck opening for placing on a wearer's neck. Uponreleasing the expanding force on the hoop, the hoop naturally contractsdue to its memory material construction. The contraction of the hoopprovides an encircling force upon the collar and the collar therebyencircles the wearer's neck to form a snug fit.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,807 to Bergkvist discloses a child's bib includes aplastic string which has a free-bearing part that extends from one endof the edge of the neck-surrounding recess of the bib to the front piecethereof and terminating in the proximity of the other end of the edge ofsaid recess, said plastic string having the form of a series of beadsthat are mutually separated by waist portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,518 to Bloom discloses an apron for use by dentistsand the like is provided with a main body portion and a collar portionfor securing the apron to the wearer in which the collar portion isadjustably securable at any position within a predetermined range suchthat it forms a close fit around the wearer wherein the collar and bodyportions comprise an absorbent side and a substantially waterproof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an infant's bib with multiple closures. The bibhas a plurality of side pieces attached to a center piece. Each sidepiece has an end attached to the center piece and a free end with afastening mechanism. The fastening mechanisms can be attached to eachother in a plurality of configurations. More than one of theseconfigurations results in multiple attachment points behind the infant'sback. This inventive feature secures all parts of the bib to the infantand prevents the infant from lifting the bib away from its body ortowards its face. Thus, eliminating the risk of the infant inserting thebib in its mouth and any associated choking hazards.

Any fastening mechanism may be used, such as, for example, ahook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a magnetic fastener, an adhesive, or thelike. Regardless of the fastening mechanism used, they are configured tohave multiple attachment points to allow for adjusting the tightness ofthe bib around the infant's neck and torso.

A number of washable and reusable materials can be used to construct thebib and to help achieve the objects of the present invention. The centerpiece and side pieces are comprised of various layers of thesematerials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appendedclaims. However, for the purpose of explanation, several embodiments ofthe invention are set forth in the following figures:

1. FIG. 1A is a front view of one embodiment of the infant's bibaccording to the present invention with the free ends of the side piecesunattached.

2. FIG. 1B is a front view of one embodiment of the infant's bibaccording to the present invention with the free ends of the side piecesattached by their fastening mechanisms.

3. FIG. 2A is a back view of one embodiment of the infant's bibaccording to the present invention with the free ends of the side piecesunattached.

4. FIG. 2B is a back view of one embodiment of the infant's bibaccording to the present invention with the free ends of the side piecesattached by their fastening mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front views while FIGS. 2A and 2B are back views ofan embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a basicconfiguration of the infant's bib comprising of a center piece 105 withfour side pieces 110, 120, 130, 140. All side pieces are fixed to thecenter piece 105 and have fastening mechanisms 115, 125, 235, 245 ontheir free ends. The fastening mechanisms 115, 125, 235, 245 arepreferably configured to have multiple attachment points to allow foradjusting the tightness of the bib around the infant's neck and torso.It should be understood that fastening mechanisms 115, 125, 235, 245 areshown for exemplary purposes only. Any fastening mechanism may be used,such as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a magneticfastener, an adhesive, or the like.

Typically, most bibs have one set of fastening mechanisms directlybehind the infant's neck. The present invention provides for additionalattachment points that secure the center piece 105 to the infant'storso. The embodiments in FIGS. 2A and 2B show an attachment point nearthe infant's neck and a second attachment point at the infant's lowerback. The second attachment point is achieved by securing fasteningmechanisms 235 and 245 to each other. This inventive feature secures thebib to the infant's torso and prevents the infant from lifting the bibaway from its body or towards its face. Thus, this feature eliminatesthe risk of the infant inserting the bib in its mouth and any associatedchoking hazards.

As discussed above, traditional bibs only have one attachment pointdirectly behind the infant's neck. In order to remove these bibs, theinfant or the infant's head must be moved. In the embodiments shown inFIG. 1A and 1B, side piece 110 is longer than side piece 120, thisconfiguration allows for fastening of the side pieces 110, 120 at theside of the infant's head. Thus, the caregiver can remove be infant'sbib by simply unfastening both side pieces 110, 120 from each other andpulling the bib forward without moving the infant.

A number of washable and reusable materials can be used to construct thebib and to help achieve the objects of the present invention. In someembodiments, three layers of absorbent material such as cotton are usedfor the center piece 105. In some embodiments, side pieces 110, 120,130, 140 are constructed with two layers of absorbent material. In otherembodiments, the center piece 105 and side pieces 110, 120, 130, 140 areconstructed of a material selected from among: acrylic, microfiber,flannel, linen, polyester, terrycloth, and wool. However, it will bereadily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art that any othersuitable material can be used to construct the bib.

While the invention will be described in connection with preferredembodiments, the description is not intended to limit the invention tothose embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover allalternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included in thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, materials and modifications described and assuch may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only,and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, whichis limited only by the appended claims.

1. An infant's bib comprising: a. a center piece; and b. a plurality ofside pieces, each side piece having opposed fixed and free ends, whereinthe fixed ends are attached to the center piece and wherein the freeends comprises a fastening mechanism.
 2. The infant's bib according toclaim 1, wherein said plurality of side pieces comprises a first sidepiece and a second side piece; wherein the first side piece comprises afirst fastening mechanisms, wherein the second side piece comprises asecond fastening mechanisms; and wherein said first fastening mechanismsand said second fastening mechanisms are secured to each other behindthe infant's back.
 3. The infant's bib according to claim 2, comprisinga third side piece with a third fastening mechanism and a fourth sidepiece with a fourth fastening mechanism, wherein said third side pieceis longer than said fourth side piece, thus allowing for the thirdfastening mechanism and the fourth fastening mechanism to be secured toeach other at one side of the center piece.
 4. The infant's bibaccording to claim 1, wherein the center piece includes various layersof absorbent material.
 5. The infant's bib according to claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of side pieces include various layers of absorbentmaterial.
 6. An infant's bib comprising: a. a center piece; b. a firstside piece comprising a first fixed end and first free end, wherein saidfirst fixed end is attached to the center piece, and said first free endhas a first fastening mechanism; c. a second side piece comprising asecond fixed end and a second free end, wherein said second fixed end isattached to the center piece, and said second free end has a secondfastening mechanism; d. a third side piece comprising a third fixed endand a third free end, wherein said third fixed end is attached to thecenter piece, and said third free end has a third fastening mechanism;and e. a fourth side piece comprising a fourth fixed end and a fourthfree end, wherein said fourth fixed end is attached to the center piece,and said fourth free end has a fourth fastening mechanism.
 7. Theinfant's bib according to claim 6, wherein the first fastening mechanismand the second fastening mechanism are secured to each other behind theinfant's back.
 8. The infant's bib according to claim 7, wherein thethird side piece is longer than the fourth side piece, thus allowing forthe third fastening mechanism and the fourth fastening mechanism to besecured to each other at one side of the center piece.
 9. The infant'sbib according to claim 6, wherein the center piece includes variouslayers of absorbent material.
 10. The infant's bib according to claim 6,wherein the first side piece and the second side piece include variouslayers of absorbent material.
 11. The infant's bib according to claim 6,wherein the third side piece and the fourth side piece include variouslayers of absorbent material.